Wire-fence tightener



L. A. BUTTS.

WIRE FENOE TIGHTENER.

(No Model.)

Pate nted May 17, 1887.

n PETERS. Phoioulhogmpher. wmm m, n. c.

ilNrn LUOIEN A BUTTS, OF RUSSELL, IOWVA.

WIRE-FENCE TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,314, dated May 17,1887.

Application filed May 27, 1886. Renewed April 7, 1887. Serial No.234,099. (No model.)

reference being had to the accompanying draw-' ings, and to letters orfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inwire-fence stretchers ontighteners, the object of my improvement bemg toprovide a cheap, convenient, and effective means forbuilding wire fencesor tightening the wires thereof.

My invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts,as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 isa perspective view of my improvement, showing the same applied to afencepost. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section. Fig. 3 is asectional view taken through the line a: a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the operating-lever; and Fig. 5 is an inverteddetail perspective view of a modification of my improvement.

A refers to the end or corner post of a wire. fence, which is providedwith a brace, a. To the vertical post the wire-stretcher is attached,said stretcher consisting, essentially, of a bedplate, B, whichbed-platehasattached thereto horizontally-projecting pivoted arms 0 G,the ends of which are provided with inwardlyprojecting hooks c, whichare adapted to embrace the sides of the fence-post. These hooked armsare pivotally attached to the bed-plate by means of pivots c, whichextend through the rear edge of the bed'plate. The front edge, (I, ofthe bed-plate has a straight edge, so as to secure a largebearing-surface upon the face of the fence-post. The pivoted arms 0,hereinbefore described, may be bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 3, so as tolie above and below the bed-plate B, and at the same time permit saidarms to be swung to and from each other.

When the construction shown in Fig. 5 is employed, the arms 0 extendthrough slots formed in a downwardly-projecting portion, 0, at the rearedge of the bed-plate B, said slots serving as guides, therebydispensing with blfureating the arms.

D refers to a central upwardly-projcctlng portion, to which a collar, E,is rigidly at tached in any suitable manner, and through this collarpasses a shaft, F, which has rigidly secured thereto, by means of pins ff, supplemental collars G and G. These collars have inwardly-projectingportions g, which extend within the ring E and abut upon a flange, c,which is formed integral with the shaft F. The collar or ring G isprovided circumfer' entially with a series of projecting teeth, h, andthe collar or ring G is also provided with projecting ratchet-teeth i,said ratchet-teeth being adapted to engage with a pawl, I, which ispivotally attached to one side of the portion D.

The shaft F is provided near each end with pins f, which project throughthe same and form a convenient means for attaching the wire to bestretched thereto.

J refers to the operating-lever, which is provided with a curved end,said curved end having a projecting portion, j, which is adapted toengage with the teeth h, and ad acent thereto said lever is alsoprovided with another projecting portion, j", which also engages withsaid teeth. By means of this lever J the shaft can be readily turned, soas to wind the wire thereon, and when turned will be held in place bythe pawl I, which engages with the ratchet-teeth.

By means of the device hereinbefore de scribed the wires may be wound oneither side of the post, and the pivoted hook-arms will retain the samesecurely in position. The teeth h, which project from the collar G, areslightly inclined at their forward edges, so that the projectingportions j and j of leverJ will secure a firm hold thereto. The devicehereinbefore described is extremely simple in construction, portable,and is readily secured to or detached from a fence-post, and will holdthe wires when stretched while they are being ICO secured to the post.By employing the lever J to turn the shaft, instead of a crank-handle,

a large amount of leverage can be secured, and

the operator can stand facing the wire when tightening the same. 5 Iclain1-v 1. The improved wire-fence tightener herein described,consisting of a bed-plate having hooked arms pivoted thereto, which areadapted to engage with a fence-post, a bearing for a horizontalshaftattached to said bedplate, and a shaft provided with collars, whichis located Within said bearing, said collars having formed upontheirperipheries projecting teeth hand ratchet-teeth i, with which a I 5 pawlis adapted to engage, the parts being organized substantially as shown,and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a wire-fence tightener, a bed-plate, 13, provided with pivotedarms having hooked ends, and an upwardly-projecting bearing for 20 ashaft, in combination with the shaft F, having collars G and G, rigidlysecured thereto, pins f, pawl I, and operating-lever J, sub stantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in 2 5 presence of twowitnesses.

LUGIEN A. BUTTS.

Witnesses:

SIDNEY WELLS, JAMES GRAYSON.

